al placed in the science of astrology was
well known to the world. Should he deny that he had accomplished any
feats, the duke, believing implicitly the statement which his astrologer
had made him, would suspect that he was not what he seemed; he therefore
replied modestly, "I have done no deeds worthy relating to your
excellency, but I once swam across a swollen river to direct some
travellers who would otherwise have perished, and my neighbours were
good enough to say that none in those parts save myself would have
attempted such a feat."

"Ah!" the duke exclaimed in a tone of satisfaction, "as usual the stars
have spoken correctly. Doubtless as great courage is required to swim a
river in flood as to charge into the ranks of the enemy."

So saying Wallenstein left the room, filled with a desire to attach to
himself the young man whom his adviser had assured him was in some
way connected with his destiny. Wallenstein a day or two later offered
Malcolm to take him into his permanent service, saying that he was
frequently plagued by the stoppages of his clocks, and desired to have
a craftsman capable of attending to them on his establishment. He even
told the young man that he might expect promotion altogether beyond his
present station.

Malcolm could not refuse so flattering an offer, and was at once
installed as a member of Wallenstein's household, declining however the
use of the apartment which the steward offered him, saying that he had a
sick brother lodging with him in the town. Mingling with the soldiers in
the evenings Malcolm learned that there were rumours that negotiations
for peace were going on with Saxony and Sweden. This was indeed the
case, but Wallenstein was negotiating on his own behalf, and not on that
of the emperor. So far but little had come of these negotiations, for
Oxenstiern had the strongest doubts of Wallenstein's sincerity, and
believed that he was only trying to gain time and delay operations
by pretended proposals for peace. He could not believe that the great
Imperialist general, the right hand of the emperor, had any real
intention of turning against his master. Towards the end of January
there was some excitement in Pilsen owing to the arrival there of all
the generals of the Imperialist army save only Gallas, Coloredo, and
Altringer.

Malcolm was sure that such a gathering could only have been summoned
by Wallenstein upon some matter of the most vital importance, and he
determi